Multiple gymnastic-instrument



Sept. 8, 1931. AFF 1,822,786

MULTIPLE GYMNAST I C INS TRUMENT Filed April '25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet "l Guam;-

Sept. 8, 1931. A, RAFFQ 1,822,786

MULTIPLE GYMNASTIC INSTRUMENT Filed April 25, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 8 "1931. A. RAFFO 1,822,786

MULTIPLE GYMNASTIC INSTRUMENT Filed April 23, 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 3 ITGB l atented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED. F'ST'ATES' PATENT OFFIGE ANDREA RA-rro, on caravan-1, ITALY MULTIPLE GYMN srm-msrnmmr Application filed April 23, ieeas r al No.

entire unit and which needs no permanent fixtures for its use.

The object of the invention is tozprovide-an apparatus of the ladder type which is; adapted to be set up against the wall and held out from the wall sothat any number of different exercises may be performed thereon. I

The further "object is to provide a ladder having means associated therewith to space 5 said ladder at various distances fromthe wall and parallel thereto.

A still further object is to provide certain attachments which are essential for the do ng 7 of articular exercises.

paratus where it abuts the ground "and wall with a contacting means designed prlmar ly toprevent the apparatus from slipping. Theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a front View ofthe apparatus. Figure 2 is a side view oftheapparatus and partly in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on hnes 3 -3 of Figure l. i

Figure 4 is a side View of the apparatus 1n folded position.

Figure 5 is a top view of the apparatus as inFigure 1. Y

Figure 6 is an enlarged partial sectional view onlines 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is an enlarged partial'sectional view on lines 7-7 of Figure 3.

Figure-8 is a front view with the apparatus set up in a folded'position.

Figure 9 is a side view of the apparatus.

Figure 10 is a side View of the apparatusset up for ground work.

The invention comprises a substantially ladderlike piece of apparatus having two side pieces 1 whioh, as is usual,--are of equal length and arranged parallel toeach other. They are connected by rungs 2 of the ordlnary type, and supplemented loy the rung 2 which lies between the extreme adjacent still further object is to provide the aP- 7,487, an in Germany A g st 928,

ends of the sides and is secured thereto with two cylindrical shoes'which project beyond the sides '1 of'the ladder andafl'ord contact points for the apparatus. This allows the ladder to Joe set up in one inclined position, the inherent nature of the shoes preventing any slipping. ding'edrbymeans of the hinges 4 "to the end of the parallel side pieces oppositeto the rung 2is a pair ofparalle'llegs '5. The legs 5 have a cross bar '6 secured just inwardly of the hinges, and a second cross bar '7 connecting the free ends of the legs 5 and projecting beyond the same. Securedto that portion of the ends of the bar 7 which project "beyond the legs 5 are cylindrical rubber shoes 8 similar to the'shoes 3 and for a like purpose. The legs 5 together with the cross bars form a frame which maybe extended from the -ladder from a position parallel to the ladder'a d fo ded ereeg ns o a p s tion a right ang es t th ladde a d wh n n s ch fpo itieae any i er edi pe i eu supports th fl'acl er aga nst a ell, the .elle 8 'preven ngislipp ng' i a m nne sim la o the shoes h v Apair ofbear s ljOare eeured o'the vrung of "the ladd r'by'ser ws 9,. fl eard being arrang d opposite sid s efthe rungs and in foppee d rela ion teeael .Qther- These eardsre flfa W dth o abeut nehalj he width of he ladder and a space quit is nt from hesid P e es, bei g e up a d stanee fr m t bot om end tend ngn arly o the top of he said add rr a p t on of th pper epae ef the adder t range 2 r omitted l a ing a onside bl op ning for the ep ra e i he ra supp tin mea s o b h r a te descr e The two boardswhich are on opposite sides of th ung m y b di t nguis d by be ng termed front and back boards, andflto the frontboardjand at the edges thereof are secured angle irons 11. having their normal r faces recessed to 'form'teeth'lQ. Said irons extend the entirelength o'f t'he space from which the rungs are omitted and are adapted to receive the frame supporting member.

'Pivotally secured to thelegs Sat 18" a metallicstirrup 13,* the center portion of mo which is formed to fit between the side pieces of the ladder and rest in the teeth 12 of the angle irons 11. Between the angle iron and the back board there is space for the stirrup to slide so that it may be positioned in any set of teeth to support the frame at varying angles with the ladder. A spring 15 secured to the back board forces the stirrup 13 into the upper set of teeth and also prevents the said stirrup from accidentally riding out.

In the open portion of the ladder from which the rungs are omitted, the side pieces are formed with oval-shaped openings 16 opposite each other to receive auxiliary sticks 17 which extend beyond the sides of the ladder for special exercises. They may be placed in position at will or removed entirely. The angleirons 11 are formed with spaces 18 in their normal flange to receive sticks 17. The sticks 17 being oval-shaped to fit opening 16 are prevented from turning by reason of this interfit.

A foot supporting board 19 is affixed to the two lower rungs 2, as shown in Figure 1, while adapted to be positioned in either of a pair of holes in a pair of brackets 21 which are secured to the sides'l of the ladder adjacent the bottom is a rod 20. The holes in the brackets 21 are to allow an adjustment of the rod 20 and are square to fit the square ends of said rod and thereby prevent turning. The foot board and rod are used for special exercises. V

An apparatus such as above described could be used for almost an unlimited number of different exercises. For example, when in a vertical position with the frame normal-to the ladder, the gymnast making use of the bar' 20 and theauxiliary sticks 17 could execute a great number of at rest? exercises for 1nferior members, while suspension exercises are possible for superior members.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 show slight modifications of the apparatus as shown in the preceding figures, the diiference being in the mechanism for holding the frame or legs 5 at different angular positions to the ladder. The modified form shows the frame supported by a pair of arms made of two equal sections 22 and 23 pivotally connected at 24 to swing in one direction, the free ends of the sections 23 being secured to the legs 5 at 26, while the free ends of sections 22 are fastened to the sides 1 at 25. When the frame is swung to a position at right angles to the ladder, the sections are straight and in this position support'said frame. To support the frame in positions at various acute angles to the ladder, a pair of curved toothed arms 27 are pivotally secured to the sides of the ladder at 28 and are held in parallel relation by a cross bar 29. Fixed in the legs 5 near the outer end thereof are a number of oppositely disposed pins 30 which are adapted to seat in the notches in the toothed bar 27, the number of pins, together with the number of notches, making almost an acute angular position of the frame with respect to the ladder possible.

For certain special exercises, it is essential that the feet of the gymnast be prevented from sliding off the bar 20. A spring 31 supported by hooks 32 is, therefore, provided for use, as shown in Figure 9. Auxiliary hooks are provided so that the spring may be moved to a position 31 when not in use where it will be easily available but out of the way.

Th eapparatus 'may be set up at varying angles to a wall or may be used entirely on the ground, as shown in Figure 10, where an altogether different set of exercises may be practiced thereon. To a skilled gymnast, such an apparatus offers unlimited possibilities in the manner of light conditional exerc1ses which are so beneficial to the human.

body. An apparatus of this type is one easily v and cheaply manufactured and one which would occupy but little space in the use and storage of same.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A gymnastic apparatus including a lad-- der constructlon having uprights andcon necting rungs, boardsof less width than the distance between the uprights and secured to the respective surfaces of the rungs, said boards terminating above the lower end of the ladder, brackets carried by the uprights below the lower ends of the boards and ex tending in parallelism laterally of the uprights, said brackets being formed with a plurality of openings to selectively receive-and support a transverse bar. I p

2. An apparatus for. domestic exercise including a ladder structure formed with side pieces and cross rungs, a portion of said ladder being free of rungs, the sides opposite said portions being formed with opposed openings, sticks adapted tofit said openings which may be inserted whenever necessary.

3. An apparatus for domestic exercise including a ladder structure formed with upright side and cross rungs, a certain portion being free of rungs, the sides opposite said certain portion having opposed oval-shaped openings and. sticks oval-shaped in cross sect1on adapted to be positioned in the openings, theinterfit preventing the rotation of the sticks.

4:. An apparatus for domestic exercise including a ladder structure, a frame hingedly secured at one end of the ladder, non-rotatable cylindrical rubber shoes carried at the free ends of the frame and ladder to engage a contacting surface and prevent slipping, said shoes presenting a different contacting point for each diifer'ent angular position of the frame and ladder with the contacting surnecting rungs, boards of less Width than the distance between the uprights and secured to the respective surfaces of the rungs, said boards terminating above the lower end of the ladder, brackets carried by the uprights below the lower ends of the boards and extending in parallelism laterally of the uprights, said brackets being formed with a plurality of openings to selectively receive and support a transverse bar, and means for preventing slippage of foot from bar.

6. A gymnastic apparatus including a ladder construction having uprights and connecting rungs, boards of less width than the distance between the uprights and secured to the respective surfaces of the rungs, said boards terminating above the lower end of the ladder, brackets carried by the uprights below the lower ends of the boards and extending in parallelism laterally of the uprights, said brackets being formed With a plurality of openings to selectively receive and support a transverse bar, and a spring secured to each side adapted to be used to prevent the foot from slipping from the bar.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANDREA RAFFO. 

